Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Ad infinitum

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Ad infinitum is a Latin phrase meaning "to infinity" or "forevermore".

Description

In context, it usually means "continue forever, without limit" and thus can be used to describe a non-terminating process, a non-terminating repeating process, or a set of instructions to be repeated "forever," among other uses. It may also be used in a manner similar to the Latin phrase et cetera to denote written words or a concept that continues for a lengthy period beyond what is shown. Examples include:

  • "The sequence 1, 2, 3, ... continues ad infinitum."
  • "The perimeter of a fractal may be iteratively drawn ad infinitum."
  • The 17th-century writer Jonathan Swift wrote lightheartedly the idea of self-similarity in natural philosophy with the following lines in his poem "On Poetry: A Rhapsody":
  • The Victorian era mathematician Augustus De Morgan expanded on this with a similar verse:

    • This text is part of the nursery rhyme "The Siphonaptera".

    References

    Ad infinitum Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA